A HEAD chef is taking on a 10k running challenge with her three siblings in memory of their mum.

Eavie Shutt, from Rodbourne, is running the Cheltenham 10k after her mum Andrea died following a battle with motor neuron disease last November.

She will be joined by her brothers Matt Shutt, 28, Clayton Shutt, 26 and George Shutt, 24, and Clayton’s partner, Erin Coffey, 24, who are all in training to take on either the Cheltenham Half Marathon or the 10k in September this year.

22-year-old Eavie Shutt said: “When she told me, I didn’t have a clue what it was so it was all quite a shock especially as she was quite a healthy person. With some people the prognosis is good but it’s different with everyone. After the first year, she wasn’t able to support herself very well and then about two years, after she couldn’t walk or stand so it progressed quite a lot.”

Andrea, from Cirencester, worked as a PCSO for 12 years. She got diagnosed in 2017 and a year later was forced to give up her job because of the illness.

Eavie said: “She absolutely loved it and all the people. She didn’t fully stop, she still went around the village and spoke to people.”

Andrea lived at home for two years before going into a care home. While trying to find a suitable place, Andrea stayed with Leckhampton Court Hospice in Gloucestershire where she received great care which is why the family want to support it.

“The Cheltenham Half is going to be a real family event for us and I am sure there will be lots of cheering.

“My twin sister Tillie will be there, either heavily pregnant or with her baby in her arms. She’ll be joined on the sidelines by the partners of George and Matthew, our aunties, our granny, our dad, our step-dad and maybe our other grandparents too, as they will be travelling here for Matthew’s wedding which is five days later.”

The five fundraisers will be lining up behind the start line in September, in what will be a big month for the family, with twin sister Tillie expecting her first child and Matt due to get married five days after the run.

Brother Matt, from Tetbury, became a police officer after being inspired by his mum. He added: “I’ve already been in touch with a sports therapist to get a massage booked in afterwards to make sure I can walk down the aisle ok.”

“Mum would probably call me an idiot for running my first half marathon five days before my wedding, but she would always give us her unwavering support. She has always given everything to all five of us. She was so supportive and always made sure we were doing what we wanted to do. I think she would be over the moon to see what we’re doing in her memory.”

So far, the family have raised over £1,700 for the Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice.

Eavie said: “The hospice means a lot to us all. Mum absolutely loved the hospice. The staff there were amazing. I can remember one of the nurses made a special hat for mum and called her Queen PCSO as mum was a police officer. They let us all stay over, and we ordered pizza. All the staff were lovely.”

Eavie, who works at the Cirencester Beef Eater, started her training in February and is doing the Couch to 5k to get into shape for it.

“I find it hard to run by myself so I’ve been running with my brother, George when I can. The training is starting to get difficult as it’s starting to get warmer now too, but when the going gets tough my motivation is ‘if my mum could do it then so can I’.

“Mum was a keen runner and did a number of runs and although she wasn’t the fastest, she always did it and she never stopped. I keep that in my head. She would be so proud of us and would probably do it with us if she was still here. ”

Matt added: "Mum had five kids under five and her last two were twins. She worked a full-time job while becoming a PCSO. What we are doing now does not touch on what she has done for us. We’re pleased to run this in her memory. This is for Mum.”

You can follow the team’s progress and donate to their fundraising at www.justgiving.com/team/inmemoryofandreashutt